Miska Ready for his Opportunity with Avalanche

Feb 17, 2020

Hunter Miska came to Colorado looking to jump-start his career with a fresh start in a new organization. This would also be his first season not on an NHL contract, meaning he would be placed somewhere on the depth chart below all NHL contracted goaltenders.

As the season neared, the Avalanche made a trade that saw Antoine Bibeau, a promising goaltending prospect in the San Jose Sharks system, moved to Colorado. With the Avalanche already having a top goaltending prospect in Adam Werner, this would make Miska the 3rd string goalie in the Avalanche's prospect system. 

From October to February, through the bumps and bruises of the hockey season, Miska now finds himself dressing as the Avalanche's backup goaltender. "It's an exciting time for me," Miska said. "Obviously I didn't expect this coming into the season, but I had it into my mind that this was my main goal to make it back on an NHL deal and ultimately get up here with the Avalanche."

After appearing in 22 games for the Eagles this season and going 13-5-3 with a 2.62 GAA and a .919 SV%, Miska has stepped up and shown that he is worthy of the callup. "After losing my NHL deal last year I really came into training camp this year fired up and ready to earn that contract back. I think I've been doing a good job down there [in the AHL with the Eagles], and my team there has been playing great in front of me and really helping me get to the spot I'm in now."

It's not every day you go from an AHL contract to start the year, to signing an NHL contract and getting the call up that same week. Miska knows it's a unique circumstance, but he's ready for it. "I just want to take it all in and enjoy the experience. I know there's a lot of guys out there that would do some crazy stuff to be in my shoes," said Miska. "I'm really excited to be here with this group and bond with them and take in this experience; hopefully I'll be here for a while."